Former Keane frontman Tom Chaplin on his new sound

British singer Tom Chaplin on Beachy Head road, East Sussex, England Derek Hudson

Published:08:00Tuesday 27 December 2016

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Charlotte Pearson catches up with the former Keane frontman about his new sound.

Charlotte Harding catches up with the former Keane frontman about his new sound.

Derek Hudson

Tom Chaplin is probably best known for being the singer in Keane - the alternative band who won an army of fans with a string of catchy hits.

But with the release of his solo debut album ‘The Wave’ last year this is sure to change.

“Recording the new album has been quite refreshing,” he admits.

“When you are in a band you all have your roles and know what you have to do.

British singer Tom Chaplin, London, England Derek Hudson

“With these songs they were a blank canvas and we could see where they went.”

While working on ‘The Wave’ Tom was very conscious of not recreating the same sound that people would associate with the band, whose debut album Hopes and Fears released in 2004, won the 2005 Brit Award for Best British Album and was the second best-selling British album of 2004.

“I didn’t want it to be piano heavy,” he explains. “I grew up in Keane and wanted to do something different.

“It was great being able to use strings and wood instruments or a sax or guitar with a bit of piano.

“This album, I suppose, has just been about my desire to work with a range of different instruments.”

However experimenting with a range of instruments on what he calls ‘complex songs’, did initially provide a bit of a headache when it came to touring.

“You do have to stop and think about how it will work on stage all these different musicians in one place,” smiles Tom.